Traveling crane



Oct. 11, 1932. 0. KENDALL ET AL TRAYELING CRANE Filed Dec. 51. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS I aw Oct. 11, 1932. D. KENDALL ET AL 1,882,325

TRAVELING CRANE Filed Dec. 51, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 7 3M11 maul; dw 24 name Oct. 11, 1932. D. KENDALL ET AL TRAVELING CRANE Filed Dec. 31. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS- Oct. 11, 1932.

D. KENDALL. ET AL TRAVELING CRANE Filed Dec. 31, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE DAVID KENDALL AND EDGAR HOMER KENDALL, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO TRAVELING CRANE Application filed December 31, 1930. Serial No. 505,732.

The present invention relates broadly to the art of overhead cranes of the bridge type, and more particularly to cranes embodying improved constructional features with respect to the drive for the track wheels and $3. 9 bridge girders and adapted to drive the wheel shaft through suitable gearing. Ordinarily the armature of the bridge motor carries a gear meshing directly with a gear on the wheel shaft. Due to the fact that such shaft must extend the full length of the bridge girder, and due to the construction heretofore utilized, considerable diflicultyhas been experienced in maintaining proper alignment between the shaft and the trucks. This difliculty has been increased as bridge sizes,

speeds and loads have increased, and as the necessity for anti-friction bearings has manifested itself. With babbitt bearings of the type originally utilized, the bearings have girder deflection due to load doesnot create any condition of misalignment with respect to the bridge drive, or interfere with the proper driving relationship of the parts.

cranes. invention to provide an improved track wheel mounting particularly useful in connection with the improved bridge drive before referred to. V

In the accompanying drawings, we have shown for purposes of illustration only, and

somewhat diagrammatically, certain pre-.

ferred embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings: y I

' Figure 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view,

enlarged scale, of one type of wheel mounting;

quired. Such cranes ordinarily includecross partly broken away, of a portion of a bridge crane and bridge drive in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is'an end elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the showing of Figures land 2;

Figures 4 and 5 are detail views, onan Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to F igures 4 and 5 illustrating a slightly modified type of wheel mounting;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view, partly broken away, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a portion of a bridge drive in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 9 is an end elevational view illustrating a modified type of wheel mounting;

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional iew on the line XX of Figure 9;. and

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view on the line XI-XI of Figure 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In carrying out the present invention, which is adapted to cranes of different types, but more particularly overhead cranes of the bridge type, no radical change in, the general frame structure of the crane is re- 80 girders and side beams suitably united together and carrying the motors and other op erating mechanism. In Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings the invention is illustrated diagrammatically for purposes of a' clearer und rs an in e The use of anti-friction bearings has also 8 t d gther of In these figures them involved many difficulties with respect to the mounting of track wheels utilized with bridge- It is another of the objects of our is illustrated a girder 2 of such length as to extend between the side frames of the crane and therefore approximately from runway to runway. At approximately the central portion of the girder 2 there is provided a. bridge motor 3 having its armature shaft 4 extended beyond the opposite ends of the motor and coupled through the medium of flexible couplings 5, of any desired type to relatively small shafts 6. Each of these shafts is of a size suflicient to take' care of the direct torque of the motor, andmay be provided at a suitable pointwith brake drums 100 ings the parts thus far described are shown in greater detail, together with the necessary mountings or supports 12 for the various parts. By reference more particularly to this figure it will be noted that each of the short shafts 10 is connected by means of a flexible coupling 14 directly to a wheel axle shaft 15 carrying one of the support wheels 16 of an end truck 17. These wheels, as is customary in the art, cooperate with the runway rails 18 along which the crane travels.

To those skilled in the art it will be apparent that such a construction is extremely desirable for the handling of heavy loads at comparatively high speeds. Under such conditions crane girders, such as the girders 2,

I are subjected to considerable deflection, which deflection is ordinarily transmitted to the driving mechanism in such manner as to pro duce binding of the difierent parts. With the present construction such binding is entirely obviated, since any deflection of the girder 2 does not affect the free operation of the motor 3 and the small shafts 6, these parts being connected through flexible couplings. It is thus always possible to effectively drive the gear trains in the gear boxes 8. These v gear boxes, however, are not only located closely adjacent the end trucks, but are connected to the wheels through the medium of short shafts and flexible joints. 7 Not only is the structure therefore not influenced by girder deflection, but it is not influenced by original slight misalignment of the parts, the flexible jolnts adequately taking care of any such condition.

To those skilled in the art it will furthermore be apparent that the provision of a small shaft or of small shafts connected to the motor and suflicient to take care of the dir-ec torque thereof, obviates the necessity of providing any back shafts or back axlesas ordinarily required in crane structures, and enables the motor to transmit its power effectively directly to the gear boxes.

ing the gear boxes adjacent the end trucks, any deflection of the girders has, in any case,

only a slight tendency to change the relationship of the gear boxes and the trucks, so that the flexible joints 11 and 14- by means of which the short shafts are connected to the wheel axle shafts, are not called upon for any excessive work.

The provision of the small shafts 6, which may be referred to as the bridge line shafts,

By locatenables a mounting thereof closely adjacent the girder 2, thereby facilitating the mount ing and supporting of the shafts and reducing the over-all dimensions. A bridge line shaft of small diameter taking care of the motor torque is likewise capable of more easily taking care of local misalignments than is a heavy shaft of the character ordinarily utilized. It is further to be noted that the elimination of back axles as ordinarily required, and the substitution of gear boxes, obviates gears which are directly exposed to mill conditions and enables thc'use of gears which can be completely housed in protective casings, which casings also serve in the capacity of lubricating casings. It also enables a gear train system in which bearings for the cranes may be so provided as to obviate the necessity of any overhung gears. In like manner the mounting of the. bridge line motor closely adjacent the girder cuts down overhang and simplifies the-maintenance of the desired conditions.

The invention has heretofore been described in connection with any standard form of end truck. W'e have found, however, that desirable advantages are obtained by utilizing end trucks of special construction so mounted with respect to the crane framework as to minimize the transmission of shocks thereto. lVith ordinary drive systems, it has been necessary to rigidly tie the parts together in such manner that elimination of shocks of the character referred to is not possible. The flexibility of the present installation, however, makes it possible to support the wheel bearings in spring mountedjournals yieldingly cooperating with the framework. 7

In Figures 4 and 5 there is illustrated a portion of an end truck 19 having a track wheel 20 mounted therein through the medium of a wheel axle shaft 21. This wheel axle shaft is mounted in journal boxes 22 through the medium of anti-friction bearings 23. The journal boxes are of the type adapted to move vertically in open topped ways 24.- Lateral movement beyond that desired for purposes of flexibility is precluded by forming the journal boxes with side guides 25 adapted to overlap the sides of the ways as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

Cooperating with the wheel bearings is a cap 26 illustrated as provided with an opening or recess 27 for the reception of a buffer or buffer spring 28 of suitable construction, one end of the buffer cooperating with the cap and the opposite end bearing directly against the wheel journal box. lVhile it is possible to secure the caps in position in any. desired manner, we preferably provide the same with 'key grooves on opposite sides adapted to cooperate with similar key grooves in the open ways 2%, for the reception of keys 29. The

keyshaving been inserted, the caps maybe held in position not only through the medium of the keys, but also through the medium of bolts 30.

Not only do the bolts serve in the usual capacity of cap holding means, but they also serve the function of screw jacks. Assuming the parts to be in the position illustrated in Figure 4, and further assuming that it is desirable to remove the wheels, an operator will tighten the nuts 31 to bring the cap flange 32 against the upper surface of the end truck frame. With the parts in this position, pressure on the keys 29 will be released, thereby permitting their easy withdrawal. Thereafter the nuts may be backed off to gradually lower the truck frame 19 onto a suitable block or support provided for that purpose. The wheels having been removed, they may be repaired and bodily inserted by reversing the operation just described, the nuts and bolts being of suflicient strength to serve in the capacity of screw jacks.

In Figures 6 and 7 there is illustrated a slightly modified embodiment of the invention, in which parts corresponding to the parts already described are designated by the same reference characters having a prime affixed thereto. In this embodiment of the invention the anti-friction bearings are replaced by ordinarybearing blocks 22. It will further be apparent that in Figures 4 and 5 there is illustrated the mounting for the wheel adapted to be directly driven, while in Figures 6 and 7 there is illustrated the idle wheel 20.

In Figures 9, 10 and 11 there is shown one method of mounting end trucks so as to permit relative movement between the same and the girder frame and insure uniform bearing of all of the track wheels on the rails. In these figures we have shown a portion of a side frame 33 having projecting therebeyond a truck supporting portion 34 mounted in such relation to the main frame as to overhang the same, this overhang beingillustrated more particularly in Figure 10. Projecting downwardly from the truck supporting portion are bearing plates 35 in which is journaled a truck pivot 36 carrying a rocking truck beam 37. This truck beam is similarly connected at its opposite ends to truck frames 38 through the medium of pivots 39.

The structure described permits the beam 37 to rock about its pivotal mounting 36 and V likewise permits the individual truck frames to rock with respect to their pivotal mountings 39, thus permitting all of the wheels 40 to exert an equal bearing pressure.

Figure 9 further illustrates the relationship between a bridge line shaft motor 41, of the character referred to in connection more particularly with Figures 1, 2 and 3 to a bridge girder 42 and to the end trucks. The bridge line shaft motor 41 has a shaft 42' of the character before described, carrying a gear 43 which meshes with a gear 44 in a suitable gear box of thecharacter referred to. This gear in turn drives a pinion 45 meshing with a gear 46. on the gear box output shaft which is in approximate alignment with the wheel axle shaft 47 and to which it may be connected through the medium of a short shaft section and flexible couplings of the type previously described.

With the forms of the invention illustrated more particularly in Figures 4 to 7, it is possible to obtain full compensation of the bearings not only due to the clearance between the bearing boxes and the ways before described, but also by reason of the spring buffer. This permits a substantially full floating movement of the wheel bearings, the flexible couplings intermediate the gear boxes and the end trucks allowing such movement without any binding action. This also enables equal bearing pressure on all of the track wheels, as will be readily apparent.

Where open top ways of the type illustrated in Figures 4 to 7 are utilized, the inclusion of the buffer springs is made feasible, thereby not only lessening the shock of the crane and to a great extenteliminating vibration, but facilitating the removal or mounting of the track wheels. V In Figure 11 there is illustrated. in section one manner of attaching an auxiliary girder 48 to the side frame, this auxiliary girder being adapted to support a bridge car rail 49 as well understood in the art.

The present invention not only provides an improved method of driving cranes of the bridge type, but an improved wheel mounting effective for minimizing shocks and vibration and obtaining more uniform bearing pressure. The features disclosed make pos sible ready accessibility of the parts for replacement and repair, each mounting thereof within a minimum of space, and obviate objectionable binding due either to girder deflection or misalignment of the parts.

Other advantages are apparent from the description of the detailed embodiments of our invention, it being understood that changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing either from the spirit of our invention or the scope of our broader claims.

We claim:

1. The combination with a bridge girder for cranes, of end trucks each including track wheels, a gear box adjacent each of said end trucks and operatively connected to a wheel thereof, and means for transmitting power to said gear box, said last mentioned means including a motor adjacent the central porof, a'torque shaft directly connected to each end of said motor armature, a gear box including reduction gears driven by each shaft, track wheels, and an operating connection between said gear box and one of said track wheels.

3. The combination with a crane girder, of a pair of end trucks one adjacent each end thereof, a gear box supported on the crane girder adjacent each end truck, a flexibledriving connection between each gear box and its adjacent end truck, and common driving meansfor the gears of each gear box, said common driving means including a motor, a line shaft extending from the motor to each gear box and flexible connections. between the line shafts and the respective gear boxes.

4. The combination with a crane girder,

I of a pair of end trucks one adjacent each end thereof, agea'r box adjacent each end truck,

a flexible driving connection between each gear box and its adjacent end truck, andcommon driving means for the gears of each gear box, said common drlving means including a motor adjacent the center of sald girder and a bridge line shaft connected to said motor armature and extending from each end thereof substantially in axial alignment therewith.

5. The combination with a crane girder, of a pair of end trucks one adjacent each end thereof, a gear box adjacent each end truck, a flexible driving connection between each gear box and its adjacent end truck, and common driving means for the gears of each gear box, said common driving means including a motor adjacent the center of said girder and a bridge line shaft connected to said motor armature and extending from each end thereof substantially in axial alignment therewith, said bridge line shafts being flexibly connected to said armature.

6. In a crane, a craneframe, end trucks mounted for movement relative to said frame during operation of the crane, and driving means including gear boxes supported on the 'crane frame adjacent the respective end track wheels, means mounting said track wheels and permitting relative movement between the wheel mountings and crane, a gear box supported on the crane girder adjacent the wheel mountings, flexible driving connections between said wheels and said gear cent each end truck, a flexible driving connection between each gear box and a driving wheel, and means for rotating the gears in the gear box, said last-mentioned means including amotor common to said gearboxes.

11. The combination with a crane girder, of a pair of end trucks one adjacent each end thereof, a gear box supported on thezf crane girder adjacent each end truck, a flexible driving connection between each gear box and its adjacent end truck and driving means for rotating the gears in the gear boxes. 7

12. The combination with a crane frame of a track wheel at each end of said frame, a floating mounting for saidtrack wheel per- 'mitting' relative movement between the wheel and frame, a gear box supported on the frame adjacent each of said track wheels, a flexible connection between each gear box and the track wheel adjacent thereto and driving means for rotating the gears in the gear boxes.

13. The combination with a crane frame,- of a pair of floating mountings for track wheels, one of said mountings being disposed at each end of said frame, a track wheel yieldably carried by each of said mountings so that vertical movement of said wheel relaive to said crane frame is permitted, a gear box supported on the frame adjacent each of said floating mountings, and means for propelling said crane frame comprising means for rotating the gears in the gear boxes and a flexible connection between each gear box and the track wheel adjacent thereto.

14. The combination with a crane girder, of a pair of end trucks one adjacent each end thereof, a journal box yieldably mounted in each of said end trucks, a track wheel journalled in each journal. box, a gearbox sup ported on the frame adjacent each of said end trucks, and means for propelling the crane loo llU 

